Game systems and methods for remote card games using physical playing cards

ABSTRACT

Game systems and methods facilitate remote card games. A game system can include a game table, a card reader, a processing system, and a plurality of state indicators. The game table can receive a plurality of playing cards during a card game. The game table can have a plurality of player regions, and a first player region on the game table can comprise a card sensor for detecting a presence of one or more of the plurality of playing cards in the first player region. The card reader can detect identities of the plurality of playing cards. The processing system can automatically detect a game state of the card game based at least partially on data received from the card sensor in the first player region. The plurality of state indicators can be in communication with the processing system and can direct game play based on the detected game state.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims a benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/108,986, filed 28 Oct. 2008, theentire contents and substance of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments of the present invention relate generally to onlinegaming and, more particularly, to systems and methods for enablingremote players to participate in card games that utilize physicalplaying cards.

BACKGROUND

Various types of gaming, both legal and illegal, have existed in thiscountry since its inception. Because gaming is controlled by state law,there are varying levels of legalized gaming depending on a particularstate's laws. Nevada is the only state in the United States that allowslegal gaming of almost every variety. Other states, such as New York,may allow gaming only in certain locations, such as dog tracks, and/orpari-mutuel and off-track betting. Still other states, like Georgia, mayhave state run lotteries, a kind of state run pari-mutuel bettingsystem. Still other states prohibit gaming entirely.

The varieties of state gaming laws, coupled with the development of theinternet, are among the factors that have fueled a recent, exponentialgrowth in online gaming in the United States. Players can pursue varioustypes of gaming from almost any computer with internet access. This canbe useful, for instance, to people who live in states that do not allowgaming or do not allow certain kinds of gaming. This can also be usefulfor people who are physically unable to travel to casinos or othergaming facilities.

Online outlets now provide countless gaming options via the internet.One can participate in online casino games, such as roulette, blackjack,and the like, with or without other players. One can also play a varietyof conventional card and board games. These services are often hosted byactual casinos located around the country and around the world. EvenOnline bingo is provided for those who may no longer be able to make itto the local Elk lodge or VFW post.

Recently, there has been a revival in the popularity of poker. This hasbeen fueled partly by the proliferation of televised poker tournamentson cable outlets such as ESPN. Large poker tournaments withmulti-million dollar prizes are televised regularly on multiplechannels. As a result, there has been an increase in the number ofonline poker players and, thus, the number of online poker providers.Many providers offer online poker to computers with internet access andplayers having credit cards or checking accounts. Players can log onfrom anywhere, 24 hours a day, and can play various forms of poker, suchas, but not limited to, Texas hold'em or five-card draw.

Poker sites make money in a variety of ways. For example, a host of apoker site may keep a rake, i.e., a percentage of the pot or an ante,from each hand. Many sites also host tournaments. Players pay an entryfee to the site, in addition to the tournament buy-in, and then can thenreceive winnings based on their performance. Sites may also allowplayers to place side bets against the house on certain games. The oddsfor these side bets, as in a casino, are skewed in favor of the houseand thus are profitable overall. Sites may also simply invest the moniesdeposited with them and profit on the float, i.e., the time between whenthe player deposits money and when he withdraws it.

Conventionally, online poker players are “dealt” cards, more preciselygiven computer representations of cards, by an automated system. Playerscan then participate in the game by placing bets, discarding, receivingnew cards, etc. After play is complete, the winner is identified by thesystem. The winner's account is credited for the value of the pot, thelosers' accounts debited. On these systems, however, there is oftenconcern among users that card dealing is not sufficiently random.

Non-random dealing can be used to favor the house, house-employedplayers, or “bots” (poker-playing software disguised as a humanopponent). Non-random dealing may also be used to give more than oneplayer in a particular hand good cards in an effort to increase the betsand hence the size of the pot and the rake. Similar strategies may alsobe employed to prevent new players from losing so quickly that theybecome discouraged and log off. In addition, many think the number of“bad beats,” or high hands beaten by still higher hands, isdisproportionate as compared to live games.

These services also have other shortcomings. For instance, these sitesgenerally do not provide direct interaction with the dealer or withother players; rather, interactions are generally limited to internetchat through text messages. There is no interaction with the dealerbecause there is no dealer. The dealer is simply a computer program thatrandomly, or perhaps somewhat less than randomly, generatesrepresentations of playing cards. Moreover, while there often aremultiple players participating in a particular game, no facilities aregenerally provided for these players to communicate with one anotherdirectly. In other words, the experience is woefully similar to playingvideo poker in an arcade.

Players have conventionally not been able to play poker remotely on asite that uses actual playing cards. Thus far, online poker sites useonly computer-generated depictions of cards. Because some playersbelieve that these computer-generated cards can be manipulated to tipthe odds of winning in favor of the house, some players are discouragedfrom playing remote poker.

Therefore, there is a need for game systems and methods for remote pokerusing physical playing cards dealt by a dealer to physical positions ona game table. In an exemplary embodiment, captured images of the playingcards can be transmitted to players at remote locations. In a furtherexemplary embodiment, multiple card games can be based on cards dealt ona single card table. The game systems and methods can be implemented asa state machine incorporated into the game table. It is to such gamesystems and methods that various embodiments of the present invention ordirection.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the present invention are game systems andmethods, and smart game table systems into which the systems and methodscan be integrated. A game system according to the present invention canenable a remote player to participate in a card game, such as a pokergame, in which physical cards are dealt on a physical game table. Such asystem may be used in various environments, such as, for example, in andaround casinos. An exemplary game system according to the presentinvention can enable players using computers at remote locations fromthe casino floor, such as in hotel rooms, to participate in card gamesthat use physical playing cards.

Accordingly, the casino can accommodate more players than wouldotherwise be accommodated on the actual floor of the casino. The remoteplayers could be in other parts of the casino, such as the bar or theirhotel rooms, thereby taking up less valuable floor space. In such anembodiment, the players could be connected to tables actually located onthe casino floor, or the casino could place tables and dealers in aremote portion of the casino property that was not suitable forentertaining casino guests. Additionally, through the use of stacking,the remote players may play against other remote players using the samecards that are used on a table occupied by physical card players in thecasino.

In some exemplary embodiments, the game system can comprise a gametable, a card reader, a processing system, and a plurality of stateindicators. The game table can receive a plurality of playing cardsduring a card game. The game table can have a plurality of carddetecting regions, including a plurality of player regions, a dealerregion, and a public region. Each of one, some, or all of these cardregions can comprise a card sensor, for sensing when a card is receivedin that card region. A first player region can receive playing cards fora player of a card game based on the game system.

The card reader can detect the identities of the playing cards dealt onthe game table. For example, each of the playing cards can comprise aradio-frequency identification (“RFID”) tag, and the card reader can bean RFID reader. In an exemplary embodiment, the card reader ispositioned on the table in or near the dealer region, and has a smallenough range so as to read the playing cards as they are dealt, withoutreading the playing cards already positioned in a dealer shoe or inother card detecting regions of the game table.

The processing system can automatically detect a game status of the cardgame related to the dealt playing cards, based at least partially ondata received from the card sensors in the various player regions.

The plurality of state indicators can be in communication with theprocessing system and can indicate the game status of the card game, asdetected by the processing system. For example, in some exemplaryembodiments, the state indicators can be lights imbedded in, orotherwise attached to, the game table. In a further exemplaryembodiment, at least one light can be positioned in each of the cardregions of the game table, and a light is activated when itscorresponding card region should receive a playing card for the cardgame to continue.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent upon reading the following detaileddescription of in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A illustrates a top view of a game system, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B illustrates a diagram of an underside of the game system,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A illustrates a configuration of playing cards captured by acamera of the game system, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2B illustrates a second configuration of playing cards captured bya camera of the game system, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates the game system communicating with remote playersover networks, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 illustrates virtual game tables being based on a physical gametable of the game system, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates remote players being associated with seats at aphysical game table, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of a method of operation of the gamesystem, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To facilitate an understanding of the principles and features of thepresent invention, the invention is explained with reference to itsimplementation in illustrative embodiments. In particular, embodimentsof the invention are described in the context of being a game system forremote card games. Embodiments of the invention, however, are notlimited to remote card games. Rather, embodiments of the invention canbe used for various remote games or other remote interactions. Forexample, and not limitation, an embodiment of the present invention canbe used to provide remote board gaming.

The materials and components described as making up various elements ofthe invention are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Manysuitable materials and components that would perform the same or similarfunctions as the materials described are intended to be embraced withinthe scope of embodiments of the invention. Such other materials caninclude, for example, materials developed after development of theinvention.

Various embodiments of the game system 100 can enable remote players toparticipate in card games using physical cards without being physicallylocated on a casino floor. While embodiments of the game system 100 canbe used in many environments, the game system 100 can be particularlyuseful when operated by a casino for use by individuals who are in oraround the casino in locations other than the casino floor. For example,and not limitation, remote players of the game system 100 can be guestsat a business that is both a hotel and a casino. Using the game system100, the remote players can participate in card games without beingphysically located on the crowded casino floor. Additionally, asdescribed in detail below, because multiple virtual card games cancorrespond to a single game table 110 of the game system 100, the gamesystem 100 can conserve space on the casino floor.

Referring now it the figures, in which like numerals reference likecomponents and elements throughout the views, various exemplaryembodiments of the game systems and methods will be described in detail.

FIGS. 1A-1B illustrate views of a game system 100, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, FIG.1A illustrates a top view of the game system 100, and FIG. 1Billustrates a diagram of an underside of the game system 100. As shownin FIGS. 1A-1B, an exemplary embodiment of the game system can be asmart game table system comprising a game table 110, one or more cardsensors 180, one or more cameras 120, a card reader 130, a networkdevice 140, a processing system 150, and a plurality of state indicators160.

The game table 110 can be a table or other platform for receivingplaying cards during a card game. The game table 110 can be made of amaterial conventionally used in game tables, such as poker tables. Forexample, and not limitation, the game table 110 can be at leastpartially composed of wood, plastic, metal, or another sturdy materialcapable of supporting playing cards and the force of the dealer orvarious players leaning against the game table 110. The game table 110can comprise a felt or other cloth on its top surface for aestheticappeal and for the comfort of the dealer or local players. In someexemplary embodiments, the game table 110 can be a conventional gametable 110, such as those found in casinos, retrofitted with variousother components of the game system 100.

The game table 110 can comprise one or more card regions on the topsurface of the game table 110, including, for example, a player region112 for each potential player of a card game, a dealer region 114, and apublic region 116. In some embodiments, the game table 110 may be of aconventional design with positions for each player and the dealer,corresponding to the player regions 112 and the dealer region 114. Forexample, the dealer can be seated centrally at the game table 110, andcan deal cards to each player region 112 as though players were actuallysitting at the table.

The game table 110 can have a plurality of player seats 170 orpositions, and can have a player region 112 corresponding to each playerseat 170 or position. A first player region 112 can be configured toreceive one or more playing cards dealt to a first seat 170, or firstposition, at the game table 110. The cards dealt to a particular seat170 at the game table 110 can be private cards 310 (see FIG. 3), whichare not viewable by players at other seats 170 of the game table 110. Inthe game of Texas hold'em, for example, the two hole cards 310traditionally dealt to each player are private cards 310 that can bedelivered to player regions 112 in the game system 100. The first playerregion 112 can comprise a card sensor 180. The card sensor 180 can beconfigured to detect when a new playing card enters the player region112. For example, and not limitation, the card sensor 180 can be apressure sensor having sufficient sensitivity to sense the pressure of aplaying card alone or the pressure of the dealer's hand sliding theplaying card over the window 190. Alternatively, the card sensor 180 canbe positioned adjacent to the window 190, between the dealer region 114and the window 190, such that the card sensor 180 is tripped as theplaying card passes over the card sensor 180 before reaching the window190.

In an exemplary embodiment, the game table 110 can have, for example,and not limitation, nine player regions 112 corresponding to nine playerseats 170, as with a conventional poker table. The other player regions112 can be configured in the same, or a similar, manner as the firstplayer region 112. Each player participating in the card game cancorrespond with a particular active player region 112. Not all playerregions 112 must correspond to a player during each card game, however,as some player regions 112 can remain empty, or inactive, during a cardgame.

One or more of the plurality of cameras 120 can be positioned relativeto the game table 110 so as to capture images of the playing cards inthe player regions 112. In some exemplary embodiments, each playerregion 112 can comprise a window 180 through the game table. A camera120 can be attached to an underside of the game table 110 aligned withthe window 190 in each of the player regions 112. The window 190 can bea transparent or semitransparent material occupying a cutout defined bythe game table 110. A playing card placed on the window 190 can beviewable from an underside of the game table 110 by the camera 120. Theplaying cards for a player can be dealt on the window 190 of the playerregion 112 corresponding to that player. The player regions 112 canoptionally each include a structure, such as a card stall 192 (see FIGS.2A-2B), for catching playing cards and aligning them for viewing in thewindow 190. Accordingly, the cameras 120 underneath the game table 110can capture the playing cards through the windows 190.

FIG. 2A illustrates a configuration of playing cards 50 captured by acamera 120 in a player region 112, according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention. As mentioned above, the camera 120 can bepositioned at an underside of the game table 110, pointing upward towardthe window 190. Playing cards 50 can be dealt face-down into the window,and can be aligned with the window 190 by the card stall 192. In someexemplary embodiments, the dealer can push each playing card 50 into itsposition over the window 190 and, if applicable, into the card stall192. When the playing cards 50 are positioned in the window 190, thecamera 120 can capture an image of the playing cards 50 from underneaththe game table 110. The card stall 192 can be various shapes. In anexemplary embodiment, the card stall 192 includes specific locations forinsertion of each of the playing cards 50, either adjacent oroverlapping, as shown in FIG. 2A. However, other embodiments of the cardstall 192 can be provided. For example, FIG. 2B illustrates a secondembodiment of the card stall 192, resulting in a different configurationof playing cards 50 captured in the window 190.

The window 190 can have one or more light-emitting diodes (“LEDs”) 195positioned at its or around its edges. The LEDs 195 can illuminate thewindow 190 to enable the camera 120 corresponding to the window 190 tocapture a quality image of the playing cards on the window 190. In someexemplary embodiments, the card sensor 180 of the player region 112 canbe embedded under the felt or cloth of the game table 110.Alternatively, however, the card sensor 180 can be embedded in thewindow 190 of the player region 112, such that a card placed on thewindow 190 can be automatically sensed by the card sensor 180, as wellas captured by the camera 120.

Remote gaming can inherently expose game players to security risks, suchas cheating by hacking. To reduce exposure to security risks, thevarious cameras 120 of the game system 100 can have global uniqueidentifiers (“GUIDs”), which can change periodically. A GUID of aparticular camera 120 can be used by the processing system 150 touniquely identify and communicate with that camera 120. If a GUID of acamera 120 is constant, however, a hacker who obtains that GUID, and caneavesdrop on the feed of that camera 120. Varying GUIDs of the cameras120 on occasion can force hackers to periodically rediscover GUIDs ofcameras 120 in order to continue eavesdropping. This can provide greatersecurity than using constant GUIDs by forcing hackers to work harder tocontinue misusing cameras 120 of the game system 100.

In some exemplary embodiments, a security device (not shown) can beprovided to interface between the processing system 150 and the cameras120. The security device can periodically generate new random GUIDs forthe cameras, and can update the processing system 150 with the newGUIDs. In some exemplary embodiments, the GUIDs of the cameras 120 canbe updated every hand, every periodic or random number of hands, or atpredetermined time intervals.

Referring now back to FIGS. 1A-1B, a player region 112 can additionallycomprise means for indicating or detecting whether the playercorresponding to the player region 112 has the dealer button. In someexemplary embodiments, for example, the game system 100 can use aphysical dealer button, and each player region 112 can comprise a dealerbutton sensor 113 for detecting whether the dealer button is in thatplayer region 112. Like the card sensors 180, the dealer button sensor113 can be a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure applied by thedealer button. Alternatively, the dealer button can be detected by othermeans, such as by RFID tagging or image recognition. In some otherexemplary embodiments, a dedicated dealer button light within the playerregion 112 can indicate that the dealer button is associated with theplayer corresponding to that player region 112. As the game proceeds,the dealer can have the ability to move the dealer button, and thereforeactivate and deactivate dealer button lights in the various playerregions 112.

As discussed in detail with reference to FIGS. 4-5, multiple virtualcard games can be based on the playing cards dealt on the physical gametable 110. The position of a dealer button in a virtual game can dependon various factors, such as pacing of that particular virtual card game,which can vary as compared to a card game occurring locally at thephysical game table 110. In that case, the position of the dealer buttonin those virtual card games can vary from one another and from a cardgame occurring locally on the physical game table 110. Regardless of howthe dealer button is detected or physically represented on the gametable 110, an image or virtual representation of the position of thedealer button within an applicable virtual card game can be transmittedto a remote player.

The dealer region 114 can be a region of the game table 110 in which thedealer can perform his duties. For example, like the player regions 112,the dealer region 114 can contain a card sensor 180, which can detectwhen a burn card 330 (see FIG. 3) is “burned,” or discarded, by thedealer, as required in some card games. The card sensor 180 can be, forexample, a pressure sensor. During game play, a dealer shoe 115 can bepositioned on the game table 110 in or near the dealer region 114. Thedealer shoe 115 can hold the playing cards that have not yet been dealtonto the game table 110. The dealer region 114 can further comprise adealer sensor or button, which the dealer can activate to indicate thatan action has been taken, such as indicating that public cards 320 havebeen dealt.

The public region 116 can receive public cards 320 (see FIG. 3) dealtonto the game table 110. In contrast to the private cards 310 dealt tothe various player regions 112 at seats 170 of the game table 110, thepublic region 116 can receive cards viewable by all players in a cardgame. For example, in Texas hold'em, the community cards 320, such asthe flop, the turn, and the river, can be public cards 320 dealt to thepublic region 116. Like the player regions 112, the public region 116can comprise one or more pressure sensors for detecting when a newplaying card is dealt to the public region 116. In some exemplaryembodiments, a card sensor 180 can be provided for each expected publiccard 320. For example, in Texas hold'em, five card sensors 180 can beprovided in the public region 116 for each of the three cards in theflop, for the one card on the turn, and for the one card in the river.Alternatively, however, a card sensor 180 can be provided under a plateor surface in the public region 116, and the single card sensor 180 candetect when an additional card is dealt on the plate or surface. Furtheralternatively, various other numbers of card sensors 180 can be providedin the public region 116 to detect when cards are dealt into the publicregion 116. The card sensors 180 in the public region 116 can be, forexample, pressure sensors.

One or more of the plurality of cameras 120 can be positioned to captureone or more images of the dealer region 114 and the public region 116.These cameras 120 can be positioned over the table or under the table,if the cards in these regions are dealt over windows 190, as in theplayer regions 112. In an exemplary embodiment, a camera 120corresponding to the public regions 116 can be a pan/tilt/zoom camera120 configured to zoom in to capture only the public cards 320 in thepublic region 116, and also configured to zoom out to view all or mostof the game table 110. The other cameras 120 in the game system 100 canalso be pan/tilt/zoom cameras 120.

A design can be printed on the top surface of the game table 110 toguide the dealer and players during game play. For example, and notlimitation, the design can distinguish the various card regions of thegame table 110. For further example, images of face-down cards can bepositioned where cards should be dealt for each player.

The card reader 130 can be configured to read one or more, andpreferably all, of the cards dealt during the card game. The card reader130 can read playing card indicia to identify the dealt cards. Forexample, and not limitation, the card reader 130 can be an RFID reader.Alternatively, the card reader 130 can read magnetic ink, bar codes, orother indicia for card identification. In an alternative embodiment, thecard reader 130 can use one or more cameras 120 and software capable ofrecognizing conventional playing cards using image-based cardrecognition. The playing cards can comprise a card tag corresponding tothe type of card reader 130 used. For example, if the card reader 130 isan RFID reader, the playing cards can each contain an RFID tag. A cardtag for a particular playing card can identify that playing card to thecard reader 130. For example, if the particular playing card is an aceof spades, the card tag of that playing card can identify the playingcard to the card reader 130 as the ace of spades, or as anidentification number or string corresponding to the ace of spades.

In an exemplary embodiment, the card reader 130 can be positioned on thegame table 110 in or near the dealer region 114. The range of the cardreader 130 can be configured to read the playing cards as they aredealt, while being a short enough range not to read the playing cardsalready positioned in the player regions 112 or public region 116 of thegame table. In a further exemplary embodiment, the card reader's rangeis sufficiently small to avoid reading cards in the dealer shoe 115.Additionally or alternatively, however, the dealer shoe 115 can becomposed of a material adapted to shield the playing cards in the dealershoe 115 from the card reader 130. In some other exemplary embodiments,each card region of the game table 110 can have its own card reader 130for reading cards dealt into that card region.

At least one network device 140 can be provided in the game system 100to enable the game system 100 to communicate with remote players. Thenetwork device 140 can receive data from the processing system 150,transmit that data to one or more remote computing devices 350 (see FIG.3) corresponding to remote players, receive game decisions from theremote players, and transmit the received game decisions to theprocessing system 150 for further processing. The network device 140 cancommunicate with the remote computing devices 350 over a network, suchas the internet or a virtual private network.

Each remote player participating in a card game through the game table110 can correspond to a predetermined seat 170 at the game table 110.When cards are dealt to a player seat 170, an image of those cards canbe captured by the camera 120 corresponding to that seat 170.Additionally, when cards are dealt into the public region 116, an imageof the public cards 320 can be captured by the camera 120 correspondingto the public region 116. These images can be still pictures or videos.The images can be communicated from the camera 120 to the network device140, such as by way of the processing system 150. The network device 140can then transmit those images to one or more remote playerscorresponding to the seat 170. Additionally, the card reader 130 canidentify the cards as they are dealt to the seat 170. The detectedidentities of the cards dealt to the seat 170 can be communicated to thenetwork device 140, such as through the processing system 150, and thenetwork device 140 can transmit these identities to the remote playersas well. Accordingly, a remote player can receive images of his or herprivate cards 310 and the public cards 320, as well as the detectedidentities of his or her private cards 310 and the public cards 320. Thedetected identities of the playing cards can be used by the processingsystem 150 to determine game outcome. By receiving images of the cardsas well as the detected identities, the remote player can confirm thatthe identities of the cards being used by the processing system 150 arecorrect. By receiving the images of the physical cards, the remoteplayer can also confirm that physical cards were dealt, and therefore,the cards received were dealt randomly.

In an exemplary embodiment, the network device 140 can additionallyreceive multimedia, such as images, videos, or audio feeds, captured bywebcams or other devices of the remote players. This multimedia can betransmitted to the various players using the game system 100, such thatthe remote players can see the faces and hear the voices of otherplayers in the same card game. In some further exemplary embodiments,the game system 100 can require that remote players use webcams, or canprohibit or penalize players who do not comply. Additionally, the gametable 110 can comprise a video screen located at one or more playerseats 170 of the game table 110 to enable the dealer and local playersto interact with remote players. In some embodiments, when a remoteplayer logs in to participate in a card game at a particular seat 170,the remote player's face can be transmitted to the video screen at thatseat 170 via the network device 140. The video screen can be equippedwith a speaker and microphone to enable the remote player to interactwith the dealer and local players. Accordingly, the game system 100 canfurther simulate live game play in a casino by enabling remote playersto interact with each other and, as a result, identify one another'stells.

In an exemplary embodiment, a player can access the game system, tobecome a remote player, from various computing devices 350, includingmobile phones, Windows-based computers, and Mac-based computers. In someembodiments, the game system 100 can provide the remote user with agraphical user interface, which can be provided to the remote player bythe network device 140. To initialize an account with the game system100, the remote player can register with, and then log into, the gamesystem 100. When registering, the remote player can provide a biometricsignature, which can later be used to verify the remote player'sidentity during future logins. For example, the remote player canprovide an image of himself, which can be on an official identificationcard, or can be taken via a webcam or other device upon registrationwith the game system 100. Additionally or alternatively, the remoteplayer can provide a fingerprint by way of a finger print scanner. Whenthe remote player later attempt to log into the game system 100, theremote player can be required to provide the game system 100 with awebcam photograph or fingerprint scan, which the game system 100 canmatch to the biometric signature to verify the remote player's identity.

After having registered and logged into the game system 100, the remoteplayer can be placed in a card game of the game system 100. Whenparticipating in the card game, the remote player can bet with credits.The credits can be or represent various objects of monetary ornon-monetary value, including chips, virtual currency, or actualcurrency. Actual currency or other credits having monetary value shouldonly be used in the game system 100 if such use is legal given theenvironment in which the game system 100 is operated, such as inside acasino. When registering with the system, the remote player canautomatically be granted an amount of credits, or the remote player canprovide a source of credits to be used during betting.

Through the game system 100, the remote player can remotely participatein a card game taking place on the physical game table 110, oralternatively, can participate in a virtual card game that uses the samecards as those dealt on the game table 110. Once logged in, the remoteplayer can select, or be assigned to, a virtual card game or the cardgame occurring on the game table 110. Unless the selected or assignedcard game enforces certain stakes, the remote player can select his ownstakes as well. The remote player can also select, or be assigned to, aparticular seat 170 of a card game. If desired, the remote player canchoose to participate in multiple card games simultaneously. In someembodiments, the remote player does not have access to all card games ofthe game system 100 at once, and can only participate in card games towhich he has access. To avoid collaboration between players, the gamesystem 100 can periodically switch the card games to which each remoteplayer has access. As the remote player's one or more card gamesproceed, the remote player can view and interact with the dealers andother players of the card games in real time.

If the remote player is assigned to a virtual card game, the remoteplayer can receive the same private cards 310 as those received by alocal player physically sitting in the corresponding seat 170 at thegame table 110. The remote player, however, is independent of thecorresponding local player, and need not make the same game decisions asthat local player. For example, and not limitation, the local player mayfold, while the remote player may continue to play his hand. If thelocal card game being played on the game table 110 ends before all cardsare dealt, the game system 100 can prompt the dealer to continue dealingplaying cards onto the game table 110 until all virtual card games basedon those cards have ended. As a result, the remote player and thecorresponding local player need not have the same game results, althoughthey are dealt the same hand.

Through the graphical user interface, the remote player can place bets,fold, discard, ask for cards, and select other game decisions and playertasks during the card game. The network device 140 can communicate thegame decisions to the processing system 150, which can eventuallydetermine the size and winner of the pot. In some embodiments, the gamesystem 100 can support third-party advertising. In these embodiments,the graphical user interface can display advertisements to remoteplayers.

The processing system 150 can be configured to process various datarelated to the game system 100, and to coordinate various components ofthe game system 100. The processing system 150 can be in communicationwith the network device 140, the card sensors 180, the card reader 130,and the cameras 120. The processing system 150 can be or comprise acomputing device, including a computer processing unit and acomputer-readable medium, such as a storage device. The computerprocessing unit can execute instructions stored on the computer-readablemedium for performing operations of the game system 100.

In some embodiments, the processing system 150 can determine the winningplayer in each hand using data collected by the card reader 130. In someother embodiments, the winner may be determined by the dealer at theconclusion of each hand. After a winner is determined, the game system100 can then credit the winner and debit the losers either automaticallyor at the dealer's behest.

The processing system 150 can be further configured to pay consolationor “bad beat” prizes, i.e., prizes to players with very high hands wholose to an even higher hand. This can include an ability of theprocessing system 150 to track the size of the bad beat pot anddetermine when players should receive the consolation prize. The badbeat pot can be a percentage of the buy-in for a card game or can be anante before each hand.

Additionally, the processing system 150 can track how often and how longplayers participate, and to reward frequent player points. Frequentplayer points can be redeemed to purchase merchandise, pay entry fees,and the like.

The processing system 150 can implement a state machine comprising oneor more states, which can represent statuses of one or more card gamesoccurring through the game system 100. The state machine can transitionbetween states based on the processing system's identification oftransitioning events, which can be based on status changes of the cardgames.

The state indicators 160 can indicate to the dealer the current statusof the one or more card games based on the game system 100. In someexemplary embodiments, the state indicators 160 can be a plurality oflights. In a further exemplary embodiment, each player region 112 canhave a state indicator 160, such as a light. The dealer region 114 andthe public region 116 can also each have one or more state indicators160. Each state indicator 160 can have an active state and an inactivestate. In the case of the light, the active state can occur when thelight is on, and the inactive can occur when the light is off. Thelights can have one or more active states corresponding to variouscolors of the lights, such as red, green, yellow, and/or other colors.As a group, the state indicators 160 can be activated in variousconfigurations, such that each configuration can indicate a status ofthe card games and, therefore, an action that the dealer should take toallow one or more of the card games to proceed.

For example, a first state of the state machine can be a deal state and,more specifically, a deal state in which the dealer button is at seatone, or some other specified seat 170 at the game table 110. This statecan occur when one or more card games of the game system 100 cannotproceed until at least one playing card is dealt. The deal state beindicated to the dealer by activating the state indicator 160 at seatone, or the other specified seat 170. Another state can be a burn state,in which it is expected that the dealer will “burn,” or discard, aburned playing card 330 before dealing additional cards. This state canbe indicated, for example, by activating a state indicator 160 in thedealer region 114. Yet another state can be a public card state, inwhich it is expected that the dealer deal a public card 320 into thepublic region 116 of the game table 110. Yet another state can be amisdeal state, in which the processing system 150 detects that a misdealhas occurred. This state can be indicated, for example, the activatingmultiple state indicators 160. If the state indicators 160 are lights,the lights can flash repeatedly, such as in a predetermined color, whenthe game system 100 is in a misdeal state. Additionally, the game system100 can lock itself when in the misdeal state. In some embodiments, thegame system 100 can be unlocked from the misdeal state only by someonehaving a physical or virtual unlock key, such as a code. For example, ifthe game system 100 is operated in a casino, a pit boss or othersecurity-cleared individual may be automatically notified when thesystem enters a misdeal state. Upon clearance, the pit boss can unlockthe game system 100, so that game play can continue upon correction orbeginning of a new hand.

The game system 100 can be an intelligent sensor network, in that theprocessing system 150 can identify states and transitioning events ofthe state machine, based at least partially on data received from thevarious card sensors 180 in the game system 100. The card sensors 180can provide data to the processing system 150 indicating which cardshave already been dealt on the game table 110. From this data, theprocessing system 150 can determine a state of the state machine, whichcan determine which card should be dealt next. If the next card dealt isdealt to the incorrect region, as can be determined based on the currentgame, then the processing system 150 can detect a misdeal and cantransition into a misdeal state. Upon entering the misdeal state, thestate indicators 160 can indicate this state, such as by flashing red.

Identification of states and transitioning events can also be partiallydetermined by data received from the network device 140. For example,after the flop in Texas hold'em, or at other points in Texas hold'em orother games, the players generally place bets. During bet-placing, thegame system can be in a betting state, and bets and other game decisionscan be received from remote users through the network device 140. Basedon data received from the network device 140, the processing system 150can determine when a round of betting closes. The closure of a round ofbetting can be a transitioning event, which, upon detection by theprocessing system 150, can cause the processing system 150 to transitionto another game state. If the previous cards dealt were the flop, thenthe next game state after betting can be a burn card game state, duringwhich the dealer can be prompted to burn a card before dealing the turncard.

Because the dealer can be prompted based on the state indicators 160,some embodiments of the invention need not require a human dealer. Arobotic dealer can alternatively be used, and can perform the duties ofa dealer as directed by the current state of the game system 100.

One, some, or all of the cameras 120, the card reader 130, the networkdevice 140, the processing system 150, and the state indicators 160 canbe attached to or integrated with the game table 110. For example, in anexemplary embodiment, the card reader 130 and the state indicators 160can be imbedded in the game table 110. For further example, the cameras120 corresponding to the player regions 112, the network device 140 andprocessing system 150 can be attached to a harness on the underside ofthe game table 110.

The game system 100 and associated methods can overcome the problems inthe art by providing online poker games using physical playing cardsthat are randomly shuffled and dealt by a live dealer to the physicalplayer regions 112 on the game table 110. Therefore, embodiments of thegame system 100 can provide a gaming experience analogous to aconventional casino, in contrast to the conventional method of providingcomputer generated hands. In this manner, the game system 100 can allayplayers' fears that certain computerized gaming systems are manipulatedin favor of the house.

Remote gaming through the game system 100 can enable remote players toparticipate in card games despite card tables on a casino floor beingfull. Through use of the various cameras 120 and the graphical userinterface, remote players can experience the feel of being at a livecasino poker table from other parts of the casino, from their hotelrooms, or even from the convenience of their homes. Additionally, whileplaying remotely, a player can participate in multiple card games,enabling the remote player to multitask and possibly win bigger than theremote player could if the remote player were limited to a single cardgame, as in a physical casino. Enabling remote game play can also lessencrowds in a casino, thereby allowing other players physically located inthe casino to have greater access to card tables.

FIG. 3 illustrates the game system 100 communicating with remote playersover various networks 370, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the game system 100 can furthercomprise a server 360 for providing the graphical user interface toremote users at remote computing devices 350, and for performing variousother functions of the game system 100. Through the graphical userinterface, the remote users at remote computing devices 350 can interactwith the game system 100. In some exemplary embodiments, the networkdevice 140 and all or part of the processing system 150 can beintegrated into the server 360. The server 360 can be integrated into,or otherwise physically attached to, the game table 110.

The server 360 can communicate with remote players, such as through thenetwork device 140, over one or more networks 370. Networks 370 overwhich the server 360 can communicate can include, without limitation,local area networks (“LANs”), VPNs, and the Internet. In particular, aVPN can provide beneficial security features for remote players tointeract with local players and the dealer, which can minimize cheatingin some instances. A VPN or LAN can be operated within a limited area,so as to limit the area in which remote players can be located whileaccessing the game system 100. For example, and not limitation, a LAN orVPN over which the game system 100 communicates can be limited to acasino or hotel. A VPN or LAN can also require remote players to providean access code, so as to limit the game system 100 to users approved bythe operator of the game system 100.

The graphical user interface provided by the server 360 to a remoteplayer at a remote computing device 350 can enable the remote user toeffectively participate in a card game of the game system 100. Asdiscussed above, the remote player can receive one or more images of hisplaying cards and, optionally, detected identities of his playing cardsthrough the user interface. Also through the user interface, the remoteuser can indicate game decisions, which are then transmitted to theserver 360 and executed in the remote player's card game. Such gamedecisions can include decisions to fold, raise, check, call, or variousother decisions that the remote player may have to make during a cardgame.

The graphical user interface can also indicate one or more aspects ofthe current status of the card game in which the remote playerparticipates. For example, the graphical user interface can display avirtual dealer button proximate a representation of the player who wouldhave the dealer button if the game were to occur at a physical gametable.

An additional feature of the game system 100 is that, as illustrated inFIG. 4, one, two, or numerous virtual game tables 410 can be based onthe cards dealt on the physical game table 110. Although only threevirtual game tables 410 are illustrated, various numbers of virtual gametables 410 can be based on the physical game table 110. In someexemplary embodiments, three to ten virtual game tables 410 can be basedon the physical game table 110, but other numbers of virtual tables 410can be provided as well. The number of virtual tables is theoreticallyunlimited, but may be practically bound by server capacity and a desiredspeed of game play. As a result of providing multiple virtual gametables 410, multiple card games can occur based on the dealt cards.

In an exemplary embodiment, each virtual seat 470 of a virtual table 410can correspond to a physical seat 170 and player region 112 of thephysical game table 110. As shown by line 450, cards that are dealt to afirst seat 170 of the physical game table 110 can be presented throughthe graphical user interface to a remote player at a virtual seat 470corresponding to the first seat 170. Further, multiple virtual games canoccur based on the physical game table 110, so multiple virtual seats470 at different virtual game tables can correspond to a single physicalseat 170 at the physical game table 110. FIG. 5 illustrates how multipleremote players can play cards corresponding to a single physical seat170.

Additionally, a local card game can take place at the physical table110, and virtual card games can take place using the same cards as thosedealt at the physical table 110 during the local card game. Furtheradditionally, local players can be integrated into card games withremote players.

Because multiple card games can be based on cards dealt in the gamesystem 100, it can be important to provide a sufficient separationbetween the players of the multiple games. For example, a first playerat a first seat 170 in a first card game should not be able to see how asecond player at the same seat 170 of a second card game bets. To thatend, the various cameras 120 of the game system 100 can be configured tozoom in on the public cards 320, dealer region 114, or other portions ofthe game table 110 being transmitted to the remote players, so thatremote players cannot observe betting occurring by local players at thegame table 110.

In some instances, two or more card games based on a single set of dealtcards on a physical game table 110 may proceed at different speeds,based on the various betting speeds of the players in the card games.Accordingly, the processing system 150 can be configured to enable cardgames of various speeds to be based on the same physical game table 110.For example, the game system 100 can remain in a betting state until allbets are received from all card games, so as to avoid dealing additionalcards viewable by players who have not yet finished betting.

Alternatively, the current state of the state machine of the game system100 can correspond to a game status of a card game locally occurring onthe game table 110 or, if no local game exists, according to the fastestor other selected virtual card game. In that case, video feeds, images,and other data related to continuation of the physical card game can bedelayed in their transmission to remote players participating in slowercard games. When a slower card game is ready to proceed, only then maydata related to a next step of the card game be transmitted to theremote players of that slower card game. This can enable two or morecard games to proceed at their own paces, while both card games arebased on a single set of dealt cards.

As another option for pacing multiple card games based on a single gamesystem 100, the processing system 150 can track the timing of thevarious players of the card games of the game system 100. Based on theplayers' betting speeds, the processing system 150 can manually orautomatically swap players between seats 170 or between card games toproduce desirable pacing. Swapping can be implemented in an attempt toset the multiple card games to similar overall betting times per bettinground, to place players with similar betting speeds at the same table,to place players with similar betting speeds in the same seat, or toachieve some combination of these or other pacing goals.

In addition to various other benefits, facilitating multiple card gamesbased on a single physical game table 110 can enable effective trackingof player skill levels. For example, if two players occupy the same seat170 in the game system 100 and, therefore, receive the same cards, theirwinnings can be compared to each other to gain an idea of which playeris the better player. Over time, these comparisons can be used to rankplayers who utilize the game system 100.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method 600 of operation of the game system100, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Theflow chart illustrates various states of an exemplary state machine 605of the game system 100, as well as transitions between these states. Themethod 600 of FIG. 6 is an example presented for illustrative purposesonly, and does not limit the various embodiments of the game systems 100or methods 600. A game method 600 according to the present invention canhave various actions, which, in some embodiments, can include thoseactions depicted in FIG. 6. Other actions not pictured in FIG. 6,however, can also be provided, and the order of actions within the gamemethod 600 can vary between embodiments of the invention.

The game method of FIG. 6 applies to a game system 100 configured toprovide a game of Texas hold'em poker. As shown in FIG. 6, an exemplaryembodiment of a game method 600 of the present invention can initializeat 610. Initialization can be prompted in various fashions, such as byactuation of a power switch, or by the dealer's pressing a dealer sensordevice, such as a card sensor 180 in the dealer region 114. Afterinitialization, the game system 100 can transition to a WaitingForDealstate 615, from which dealing can begin. The game system can thentransition to a CheckContinueDealing state 620, in which the game system100 can determine whether a playing card should be dealt, based on whichcards have already been dealt.

If the current status of the game suggests that cards should be dealt,the game system 100 can prompt the dealer to begin dealing. At thatpoint, the dealer can remove a playing card from the dealer shoe 114 andcan slide the playing card across the card reader 130, which can enablethe game system 100 to identify the playing card, and can also cause thegame system 100 to transition to a CheckCardDestination state 630.

In the CheckCardDestination state 630, the game system 100 can determinewhere the playing card should be delivered. When the current game statussuggests that the dealer deal a hole card 310, the game system 100 cantransition to a DealNextSeat state 635. In this state 635, a stateindicator 160 in the player region 112 to which the playing card shouldbe dealt can be activated to indicate to the dealer where to deliver theplaying card. The game system can then transition to a WaitingForCardstate 640.

Alternatively, if the game system 100 determines that hole cards 310have all been dealt previously and it is time for community cards 320 tobe dealt, the game system 100 can transition to a DealCommunity state645. In the DealCommunity state 645, the game system 100 can activate astate indicator 160 in the public region 116 to indicate that theplaying card should be dealt to that region 116. Additionally, in theDealCommunity state 645, one or more cameras 120 associated with thepublic region 116, can zoom in to the public region 116, so that remoteplayers can see an image of the community cards 320 without seeing thefaces or expressions of local players at the game table 110. After thecommunity cards 320 have been dealt, the game system 100 can transitionto a BurnCard state 650. In the BurnCard state 650, the game system 100can activate a state indicator 160 in the dealer region 114 to indicatethat the dealer should discard a burn card 330.

As directed by the state indicator 160 to deal a hole card 310, acommunity card 320, or a burn card 330, the dealer can slide orotherwise place the playing card into the applicable region, which canbe detected by a card sensor 180 in that card detecting region 112, 144,or 116. After the playing card is detected by the card sensor 180, thegame system 100 can transition to a CardDealt state 640. If however, theplaying card passes over the card reader 130 while the game system 100awaits delivery of the playing card, the game system can transition intoa CardRead state 660, in which the identity of the playing card isdetected and recorded, before transitioning to the CardDealt state 655when delivery of the card is detected.

In the CardDealt state 655, the game system 100 can determine whetherthe newly dealt playing card was delivered as expected. Morespecifically, in some embodiments, the game system 100 can determinewhether the playing card was read by the card reader 130, delivered to acard detecting region, and further, delivered to the correct carddetecting region 112, 114, or 116. If the game system 100 determinesthat the playing card 100 was appropriately delivered, the game system100 can transition to a SuccessfulDeal state 665. From theSuccessfulDeal state 665, the game system can return to theWaitingForDeal state 615, and then to the CheckContinueDealing state 620to determine whether dealing should continue.

If, in the CardDealt state 655, the game system 100 determines that theplaying card was not delivered appropriately, the game system 100 cantransition to a CardReadError state 670, if the card reader 130 did notread the playing card, or to a CardDealError state 675, if the playingcard was not delivered to the correct card detecting region 112, 114, or116. From either of these states 670 or 675, the game system 100 cantransition to a FaultedDeal state 680. In the FaultedDeal state 680, thestate indicators 160 can indicate a misdeal or other applicable error.For example, if the state indicators 160 are lights, they can flash redto warn the dealer of the error. The game system 100 can be disabled inthe FaultedDeal state 680, and the current hand cannot continue. In someexemplary embodiments of the game system 100, the game system 100 canremain locked until unlocked by an authorized individual. After beingunlocked, the game system 100 can transition to a Final state 685. Atthat point, the dealer can begin dealing a new hand.

In the CheckContinueDealing state 620, the game system may determinethat the current game state suggests that players should now place theirbets. The game system 100 can then transition to a ProcessBets state625, in which players make bets and communicate their game decisions tothe game system 100. The state indicators 160 can indicate that thedealer should wait for the betting cycle to complete. For example, ifthe state indicators 160 are lights, they can flash to notify the dealerthat betting is in progress. After the betting cycle closes, the gamesystem 100 can return to the CheckContinueDealing state 620. If no morecards can be dealt in the current hand, then the game system 100 cantransition to a DealComplete state 690, and then to a CalculateWinnerstate 695.

In the CalculateWinner state, the game system 100 can determine whichplayer that has not folded has the best hand, and can deem that playerto be the winner of the hand. The game system 100 can indicate thewinner in various ways, such as by activating the state indicator 160 inthe winner's player region 112, or by flashing the LEDs 195 around thewindow 190 of the winner's player region 112. Because the winner of avirtual card game can differ from the winner of a local card game on thephysical game table 110, remote players can receive an indication of thewinner in the graphical user interface provided to them by the gamesystem 100. The game system 100 can transfer all or a portion of the potinto the winner's account and, in some embodiments, can publish theidentity of the winner. Them the game system 100 can then transition tothe Final state 685, from which a new hand can begin.

Accordingly, as described above, various embodiments of the game system100 can enable remote players to participate in card games usingphysical playing cards. As a result of various features of the gamesystem 100, the game system can simulate live casino play whileconserving space within a casino and allowing players to participatefrom remote locations.

While exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, manymodifications, additions, and deletions can be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention and its equivalents, as setforth in the following claims.

1. A game system comprising: a game table for receiving a plurality ofplaying cards during a card game, the game table having a plurality ofplayer regions, and a first player region of the game table comprising aplayer card sensor for detecting a presence of a subset of the playingcards in the first player region; a card reader for detecting identitiesof the plurality of playing cards; a processing system configured toautomatically detect a game state of the game system based at leastpartially on data received from the player card sensor in the firstplayer region; and a plurality of state indicators for directing gameplay on the game table based on the detected game state.
 2. The gamesystem of claim 1, further comprising a first camera, and a windowthrough the game table in the first player region, the first camerabeing configured to capture an image of the subset of the playing cardsthrough the window.
 3. The game system of claim 2, further comprising anetwork device configured to transmit the image of the subset of theplaying cards to a first remote computing device.
 4. The game system ofclaim 3, the first player region being associated with a first player ina first card game at the first remote computing device, and furtherbeing associated with a second player in a second card game a secondremote computing device, wherein the network device transmits the imageof the subset of the playing cards to both the first player and thesecond player.
 5. The game system of claim 1, the game table furthercomprising a dealer region comprising a dealer card sensor for detectinga presence of one or more of the plurality of playing cards in thedealer region.
 6. The game system of claim 1, the processing systemconfigured to detect a misdeal of the plurality of playing cards basedat least partially on data received from the player card sensor.
 7. Thegame system of claim 1, the state indicators being configured toindicate when a dealer should deal.
 8. The game system of claim 1, thestate indicators being lights imbedding in the game table.
 9. The gamesystem of claim 1, the player card sensor comprising a pressure sensor.10. A game system comprising: a game table system comprising a pluralityof card detecting regions for detecting positions of a plurality ofplaying cards dealt in a card game; a processing system in communicationwith the game table system and configured to identify a transitioningevent based at least partially on the detected positions of the playingcards, the processing system implementing a state machine having aplurality of states representative of the card game, and the statemachine transitioning from a previous state to a current state based onthe transitioning event; and a plurality of state indicators incommunication with the processing system, and being configured toautomatically indicate the current state of the state machine.
 11. Thegame system of claim 10, the processing system being physically attachedto the game table system.
 12. The game system of claim 10, the pluralityof card detecting regions comprising a player region for receiving asubset of the playing cards representative of playing cards dealt to aplayer in the card game.
 13. The game system of claim 12, furthercomprising a camera for capturing an image of the subset of the playingcards in the player region.
 14. The game system of claim 12, furthercomprising a card reader for detecting identities of the subset of theplaying cards in the player region.
 15. The game system of claim 14,further comprising a camera for capturing an image of the subset of theplaying cards in the player region, and a network device fortransmitting the image and the identities of the subset of the playingcards to a remote computing device.
 16. The game system of claim 10, thestate machine transitioning to a misdeal state when at least of theplaying cards is positioned in an incorrect card detecting region
 17. Agame system comprising: a game table having a first player region forreceiving a first set of playing cards; a network device fortransmitting a representation of the first set of playing cards to afirst player at a first remote location, and to a second player at asecond remote location, and for receiving a first game decision from thefirst remote location, and a second game decision from the second remotelocation; and a processing system for applying the first game decisionto a first card game, and for applying the second game decision to asecond card game.
 18. The game system of claim 17, further comprising aplurality of state indicators in communication with the processingsystem, wherein the processing system implements a state machine, andthe state indicators indicate a current state of the state machine. 19.The game system of claim 17, further comprising a camera configured tocapture an image of the first set of playing cards, wherein the networkdevice is further configured to transmit the image to the first playerat the first remote location.
 20. The game system of claim 19, theprocessing system being further configured to delay transmission of theimage to the second player at the second remote location.
 21. A methodfor facilitating one or more card games associated with a game table,the game table comprising a plurality of card detecting regions, themethod comprising: activating one or more state indicators in a firstconfiguration to prompt a dealer to deal a first playing card into afirst card detecting region of the game table; and detecting receipt ofthe first playing card in one of the card detecting regions of the gametable.
 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising selecting thefirst configuration for the state indicators based at least partially ondata received from the card detecting regions.
 23. The method of claim22, further comprising determining an updated status of the card gamesbased on the detected receipt of the first playing card.
 24. The methodof claim 23, further comprising activating the state indicators in asecond configuration based on the updated status of the card games. 25.The method of claim 21, further comprising: detecting receipt of thefirst playing card in a second card detecting region; and determiningthat the first card game is in a misdeal state based on the firstplaying card being delivered into an incorrect card detecting region.26. The method of claim 21, further comprising: detecting receipt of thefirst playing card in the first card detecting region; and determiningthat the first playing card is positioned correctly on the game table.27. The method of claim 21, the game table further comprising a cardreader configured to detect an identity of the first playing card. 28.The method of claims 21, further comprising providing a cameraconfigured to capture an image of one or more of the playing cards inthe first card detecting region.
 29. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising simultaneously virtualizing two or more card games based onthe a plurality of playing cards dealt onto the game table.
 30. Themethod of claim 29, further comprising associating playing cards in thefirst card detecting region with a player in each of the plurality ofcard games.
 31. The method of claim 21, further comprising virtualizinga first card game based on a plurality of playing cards dealt on thegame table.
 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising virtualizinga second card game based on the plurality of playing cards dealt on thegame table, wherein a first player in the first card game and a secondplayer in the second card game receive the same private playing cards.33. A method for facilitating one or more card games associated with agame table, the game table comprising a plurality of card detectingregions, the method comprising: activating one or more state indicatorsin a first configuration to prompt a dealer to deal a first playingcard; identifying the first playing card; detecting receipt of the firstplaying card in the first card detecting region of the game table;associating the first playing card with a first player of a first cardgame; identifying a second playing card; detecting receipt of the secondplaying card in a second card detecting region of the game table;associating the second playing card with a second player of the firstcard game; receiving game decisions from the first player and the secondplayer during a betting cycle; activating the state indicators in asecond configuration to indicate that the betting cycle has ended; anddetermining a winner of the first card game.
 34. The method of claim 33,further comprising: associating the first playing card with a thirdplayer in a second card game; associating the second playing card with afourth player in the second card game; receiving game decisions from thethird player and the fourth player; and determining a winner of thesecond card game.
 35. The method of claim 34, the second card game beinga virtual card game that uses the playing cards dealt in the first cardgame.
 36. The method of claim 34, the third player participating in thesecond card game remotely over a network.
 37. The method of claim 34,further comprising transmitting an image of the first playing card tothe third player.